Madman!
From becoming one of the Elite Ten... no, from joining Totsuki until today, although Eizan Etsuya's journey couldn't be said to be completely smooth sailing, he had never suffered any major losses.
His talent in business acumen was very high, and his talent in cooking was also not low.
Someone like him was like a fish in water at a place like Totsuki!
Then today he suffered a major loss at the hands of Mutou Judai!
The Shokugeki between him and Mutou Judai had been confirmed—Mutou Judai had also called people from Great Universe Bar to report the procedures to the Shokugeki Administration Bureau.
As for their respective stakes...
Initially, Mutou Judai's stakes were Eizan Etsuya's hands, then his stakes gradually became Eizan's limbs and even his life...
Moreover, looking at Mutou Judai's eyes full of killing intent, and comparing them with the death row inmates he had seen, Eizan Etsuya felt that Mutou Judai had definitely killed people before, and probably more than one...
So he didn't dare joke with his own life.
In such circumstances, intimidated by the murderous aura from Jack Hanma emanating from Mutou Judai, he put up whatever stakes he had.
All his assets and ninety percent of his future income—he used these things to buy his own life!
The other party hadn't paid anything, yet he still had a feeling of surviving a disaster, even thinking he might have profited.
As for Mutou Judai.
He originally felt he wasn't very good at cooking and couldn't help Erina much in this field, so he felt somewhat... well, somewhat idle at this time.
Now that Eizan Etsuya had actively come to help him pass time, he naturally wouldn't refuse the other party's good intentions.
The content of this Shokugeki competition was—eggs.
And this time, Mutou Judai was also prepared to display his culinary skills!
That's right, this time he wasn't planning to tear open instant noodles for a Shokugeki!
This time he would display the ultimate in his culinary arts!
Although it wasn't his ultimate dish, it was his second strongest dish!
—That was instant noodles with egg!
Yes, he could even sprinkle some scallions!
Then as a secret technique—I'll add a little less MSG!
MSG, I added MSG!
As for what Eizan would make...
Mutou Judai looked at Eizan Etsuya, who was kneeling on the ground gasping heavily with a post-disaster survival expression, and snorted lightly.
Whatever you make doesn't matter anymore!
Because.
—I've already won.
...
Erina, who was extremely busy in the kitchen, knew shortly after Eizan arrived that he had come.
And knowing exactly what methods that guy had, Erina knew she couldn't keep hiding and not go out.
But the work in her hands was work that only she could complete, which made Erina plan to finish this table first before going to find Eizan.
During this process, the employee who had previously reported Eizan's arrival came to the kitchen again.
"The problem seems to be... that Eizan appears to be planning to find a venue in Great Universe Bar to have a Shokugeki with someone."
A Shokugeki?
Hearing that Eizan had made a suspicious move, Erina frowned, thinking about why he would do this.
During her contemplation, Erina asked again.
"Who is his Shokugeki opponent?"
"It's Mutou Judai-san..."
The service staff at Great Universe Bar had all seen Mutou Judai knock down Himuro Ryo with one punch in the Kengan match, and since then they had added "san" when addressing Mutou Judai.
Moreover, they were actually a bit worried now.
After all, if you were talking about Eizan and Mutou Judai having a Kengan match, they would at most worry about Eizan not being accidentally killed by Mutou Judai.
But a Shokugeki...
—Could Mutou-san really cook?
When Erina heard that Eizan Etsuya's Shokugeki opponent was Mutou Judai, her previously furrowed brow relaxed, and she slowly smiled, feeling much more at ease.
"If it's him, then we don't need to worry about Eizan Etsuya's affairs."
"Eh? But..."
"There's no 'but'!"
Erina crossed her arms, and her entire aura rose in an instant.
"We're very busy here, so everyone go back to your work—as for over there..."
When she said this, Erina had already picked up the kitchen knife she had put down and continued processing ingredients.
"He won't lose in a Shokugeki... at least he won't lose to someone like Eizan, so you can rest assured."
Hearing Erina say this, the staff in Great Universe Bar's kitchen looked at each other.
Then they updated their assessment of Mutou Judai.
—So Mutou-san is not only amazing at fighting, but his culinary skills also surpass the Elite Ten!
Worthy of him indeed!
...
Great Universe Bar, the slightly modified underground fighting arena.
Because Eizan had prepared early to have a Shokugeki with Erina, while Mutou Judai went to a convenience store and also got ready—he even discovered some interesting new things, so this Shokugeki proceeded surprisingly quickly.
As the Shokugeki was about to begin, Eizan Etsuya somewhat calmed down.
He looked at Mutou Judai, saying nothing, not daring to act up or mock anymore.
He was very clear that today's plan targeting God's Tongue had failed.
But he didn't dare have the slightest complaint at this time.
He would just consider this incident as his own bad luck.
However...
Even if it was bad luck, there wasn't actually much loss, because even though he had staked all his assets and future, he didn't think he would lose to Mutou Judai in a Shokugeki.
He cut the chicken, marinated it, and prepared some other things.
The dish he was making was simple—fried chicken pieces.
The eggs were used in the sauce and the coating for the fried chicken.
After efficiently completing all his preparations, Eizan subconsciously raised his head to look toward Mutou Judai's side.
This was his habit.
It was also a trick he often used in Shokugeki.
That was observing the opponent's cooking, then adding some taste-affecting ingredients to his own dish to influence or even ruin the opponent's dish's flavor.
Although he felt this move wasn't necessary against Mutou Judai, this waste who got all E grades at Totsuki, he still subconsciously looked toward Mutou Judai's side.
Then...
"I'm done!"
In just about ten minutes, at most less than thirteen minutes—Mutou Judai... was finished!?
Eizan's eyes widened.
Whether it was the other spectators of the Shokugeki or even the three judges sent by the Shokugeki Administration Bureau, none of them had expected Mutou Judai's cooking speed to be so fast!
But Mutou Judai didn't care whether they were surprised or not. He directly carried three bowls of instant noodles to the judges and placed the three bowls directly in front of them.
"This is..."
One of the judges frowned when he saw this bowl of noodles.
The judge beside him blinked and directly asked Mutou Judai.
"Um... if I'm not mistaken, this should be a type of instant noodles from a neighboring country... and it seems to be braised beef flavor... the difference is that you seem to have added an egg and some scallions..."
Hearing this question, Mutou Judai glanced at him.
"The theme of this Shokugeki is eggs. Did I violate any rules?"
"Not really..."
"If there's no violation, then please try it—this is my dish!"
Saying this, Mutou Judai didn't care at all how many bites the judges would take. Seeing that the judges had indeed each taken a bite and then put down their chopsticks, he slowly smiled.
Then he waited until Eizan Etsuya finished his dish, watching him carry three servings of fried chicken pieces to the stage, and looked over.
After all, Eizan Etsuya was one of the Elite Ten. Just like how Erina's dishes would carry the [Taste Bud Explosion] buff due to God's Tongue, Eizan Etsuya's dishes also had such things.
[Magic (Small): Can make food taste different from how it looks and feels when touched, and will slightly enhance the most special flavor in the dish]
I see~
Mutou Judai chuckled as he let the curse fall on Eizan's fried chicken pieces.
Eizan knew nothing about this.
Looking at Mutou Judai's three bowls of instant noodles that had already been pushed aside, he very confidently placed three plates of fried chicken pieces in front of the judges.
"Magic Stone Fried Chicken Pieces, please enjoy~"